An Acceptable Risk

Part 16

Ginny sat in the potions classroom staring blankly at the front of the room. She became aware of the sound of laughter filling the room, and when she looked up she saw that Professor Snape was staring down at her.
"Miss Weasley, perhaps if you put even half the effort into your potions work as you do your wool gathering, then perhaps you could do something that the last three Weasley's to grace this classroom with their presence has not managed to do." He paused for a moment and then continued. "Learn something." The Gryffindor's seated around her erupted into laughter. Ginny's face flushed the same vibrant red as her hair, and she took a deep breath to quell the tears that flooded her eyes.

"Ah, Miss Granger, how delightful of you to finally join us," snapped Professor Snape, looking at the back of the room. "Twenty-five points from Gryffindor for being tardy. Now go take a seat next to Miss Weasley. She appears to need assistance with her potions work today, though I am doubtful as to how much assistance you will actually provide." Hermione moved across the classroom and sat down in the vacant seat next to Ginny under the sympathetic glances of the Gryffindor's and the looks of loathing from the Slytherins.
"Today, we shall be working on the Vox Modificus potion. Miss Weasley, will you please call upon your vast stores of knowledge and translate the name of the potion for your classmates?" Ginny stared at the table in front of her and said nothing.
"Miss Weasley, I asked you to translate the name of the potion for your classmates," said Snape with a gleam in his eye. "Miss Weasley, do you, or do you not know the answer to the question?"
"No, I don't," Ginny ground out between clenched teeth.
"Little wonder," said Snape. "Now, is there anyone else, besides Miss Granger who would care to enlighten us?" He looked around the room but the only hand raised was Hermione whose face was a sickly gray color. "No, I thought as much. Fine Miss Granger, will you please translate Vox Modificus for us?"

Hermione took a deep breath and tried to steady her nerves. " Vox Modificus means voice modification. This type of potion is used when a person wishes only to disguise their voice, and not their person. If they wanted to change their appearance, they would use a polyjuice potion…"
"Will you SHUT UP!" shouted Ginny. "He asked you to translate the name of the potion, not conduct the blooming lecture. Can't you, just one time, keep your big mouth shut?"
"Your just jealous Ginny Weasley, and you are acting like an insufferable baby," snapped Hermione, her face suffused with color.
"Jealous!" shrieked Ginny. As if I would ever be jealous of a useless mudblood like you!" She picked up the cauldron in front of her and dumped the contents over Hermione's head. Shocked gasps from the Gryffindor's echoed throughout the dank dungeon.
"This just proved my point," said Hermione wiping her eyes. "If you knew what you were doing, this potion would have caused my skin to turn purple."

"Enough," roared Professor Snape. "Miss Granger, you are excused. I will speak to you during your free period to discuss your detention. Miss Weasley, you will sit down please." Ginny sat down, avoiding the puddle of the potion she had purposely made incorrectly. Looking around the room, she could see the looks of shock and rage on her housemate's faces, while those from Slytherin were eying her with a bit more interest. For Ginny, the rest of potions class dragged on interminably. When the class finally ended, she gathered her belongings and headed for the door, only to be stopped by three Slytherin girls who were blocking the doorway.

"Quite a performance you put on in class today Weasley," said Gretchen Codrice.
"Thanks," said Ginny shifting her satchel to her other shoulder. "But it wasn't a performance. I only said what everybody feels."
"Not everybody," said Colin Creevey as he pushed past Ginny. "I can't believe I ever called you my friend Ginny Weasley. You've been acting positively beastly these past few weeks, and I'm ashamed to admit that you're even a Gryffindor."
"Shut up Colin," spat Ginny. "Don't go sticking your big fat nose in where it doesn't belong, or you may find that you regret being unpetrified." She turned her back on the boy who used to be one of her friends and continued talking with the three Slytherin girls.
"As I was saying before I was so rudely interrupted, her kind is such a waste, and something really needs to be done about it."
"We couldn't agree more," said Gretchen. "We have a free period now, did you want to come to the library with us?"
"Oh, I'd love to," said Ginny forcing a smile. "But I'm supposed to meet with Professor McGonagall. Something about my attitude.
"Well, if you get done early enough, we'll be there for a couple of hours," said one of the other girls."
"Thanks, I'll do that," said Ginny as she bade the three girls goodbye.

Ginny walked through the halls of Hogwarts feeling the stares of everyone she passed boring holes in her back. She stood outside the Great Hall trying to decide what to do when she heard Draco, talking with Goyle coming down the hall. She glanced into the Great Hall and saw that Harry was watching her intently. She looked up as Draco approached and flashed him a giant smile.
"Hi Draco," she said.
"Ginny, I heard you had another run in with Granger today," said Malfoy.
"I don't even want to talk about it right now, but maybe later we could," she paused expectantly, baiting her trap. Draco bit with alarming alacrity.
"Tonight," he said. "I'll meet you in the History of Magic classroom. We can talk and work on that project we were discussing the other night."
"That sounds wonderful Draco," she cooed, laying a hand on his arm.
"What project is that?" asked Goyle in his slow thick voice.
"Never you mind," said Malfoy. "And mind you, not a word to anybody either, is that clear Goyle?"
"Alright," said the dimwitted boy. "I'm going to get something to eat. Are you coming?"

Draco scowled at the other boy. "I'll be there later," he snapped. "Will you get lost?"
Goyle turned and ambled off towards the Great Hall. Draco waited until he was out of sight before turning back to Ginny.
"Seriously Ginny, are you alright?"
"Well, it was rather dreadful, I just exploded in front of Professor Snape."
"He didn't punish you, did he? If he did, just tell me, and I can get him to change it."
"No, he didn't," admitted Ginny. "He didn't even take any points from me."
"An oversight on my part, Miss Weasley," said the Professor as he walked by. "Rest assured, fifteen points will be deducted from Gryffindor for your childish outburst. Really, there are other ways to handle your displeasure." He looked at the two students for a moment before he walked away.
"What do you think he meant by that?" Ginny asked as they watched him stalk down the deserted hallway.
"I'll tell you tonight," said Draco. "Now get moving. Gretchen Codrice told me you have an appointment with McGonagall. Don't be late; I don't want the old bat giving you a detention. I'm looking forward to seeing you tonight."
"Don't worry Draco, I'll be there," she promised.
"Don't forget the stone," he said as she hurried up the staircase. Halfway up the stairs, she stopped and turned around. Draco had disappeared into the Great Hall, but from where she stood, she could still see Harry, his face a mask of anger and confusion.